Once the gifts have been unwrapped, the lights and ornaments put away and the stockings bagged up to await Christmas 2015, what do you do with the now-dying Christmas tree that is dropping dry needles all over the living room?
Recycling and disposal locations from Forks to Port Townsend will collect trees during this month.
Many places will grind trees and mix them into mulch for sale to be used in gardens.
“It’s a lot better than just throwing it away. It doesn’t fill up the landfills,” said Kevin Gagnon, an employee at West Waste & Recycling of Forks.
Clallam County
Residents of the city of Port Angeles can put out Christmas trees for curbside pickup during their regular yard waste collection days next week from Monday through Friday.
Trees must be free of tinsel, flocking and ornaments. They have to have been cut into 4-foot lengths, bundled and put out in the usual pickup spots, city officials said.
City residents who are not yard waste subscribers but want their tree picked up must phone Waste Connections at 360-452-7278 to be sure their tree will be included in the collection, said Helen Freilich, city waste reduction specialist.
County residents can dispose of their trees from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the yard debris area of the Regional Transfer Station at 3501 W. 18th St.
A minimum yard waste fee of $5 will be charged to dispose of a tree.
Recycled trees are mixed with other yard debris and made into Garden Glory Compost.
The city sells the compost for $20 a cubic yard for lots of one to three yards — less per cubic yard for larger lots.
Those who don’t want to wait for curbside pickup or who live outside the city limits can go to Lazy J Farm.
Agnew
The farm offers free tree recycling for all trees, not just those that were sold there.
Lazy J Tree Farm is located at 225 Gehrke Road in Agnew, off of Old Olympic Highway between Port Angeles and Sequim.
The trees are ground and made into compost, which can be purchased at the farm, said Ann Johnson, co-owner of the farm.
A video of the farm’s tree grinding operation is available at www.lazyjtreefarms.com.
Sequim
In Sequim, Boy Scout Troop 1498 is providing a Christmas tree pickup service for recycling trees Jan. 10-11.
Cost of the pick-up is a suggested $10 donation.
To schedule a tree pick-up, phone 360-775-8074
Forks
In Forks, West Waste & Recycling, Inc., will pick up trees with regular curbside trash service, or residents may drop trees at the transfer station from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 272 LaPush Road.
There is no charge for Christmas tree recycling.
Jefferson County
Within the city of Port Townsend, customers can place their trees out for regular yard waste pickup throughout next week, from Monday through Friday, and the week of Jan. 19.
Trees will be recycled into mulch.
If the tree is more than 4 feet tall, it must be cut into smaller sections for pickup.
Trees with flocking or tinsel will be taken as garbage, and customers will be charged extra accordingly, the city said.
County residents can have their trees picked up for $7.48 each and disposed as trash.
Trees from county pick-up locations will not be recycled.
For more information, phone DM Disposal at 360-385-6612.
For a fee of $5, any county resident can take trees to the yard waste drop-off and compost purchase area of the Jefferson County Transfer Station on South Jacob Miller Road, off state Highway 20.
The yard waste disposal area is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except holidays.
Trees need to be clean. All tinsel, ornaments and wood stands must be removed prior to recycling.
The trees will be ground up and composted.
For more information, phone the compost facility at 360-385-7908
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.